DR1 Daily News - Tuesday, 14 August 2018

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May 3, 2000
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Political Parties Bill is law
Charcoal warehouse shutdown in Los Mina
Dominicans do not like paying for tourist card
Nothing is happening on the Los Alcarrizos skylift
Foreigners have to renew PNRE
Underpasses and elevated sections to close
Scotiabank to buy Banco de Progreso
Emergency landing for plane with cocaine mule onboard
Dominicans jailed and fined in Bahamas
Dominicans stopped going to Puerto Rico
Major drug network dismantled
Attempted murder of Rizik carried out by La Romana gang member
Accused of murder of Yuniol Ramirez trying to avoid prosecution
DR artistic roller skater surprises in Barranquilla Games
DR to host taekwondo Pan Am



Political Parties Bill is law
On Monday, 13 August 2018, the Executive Branch enacted the Political Parties and Political Groups and Movements Bill, having been approved in one single reading by the Senate. The Senate just needed the single reading to pass the bill because the senators were approving the amended bill sent by the Chamber of Deputies.

Political Parties, Groups and Movements Law 33-18 comes into force immediately and applies to the actions taken by the political parties to choose their elective candidates for the presidential, congressional and electoral elections coming up in 2020. It is now up to the Central Electoral Board (JCE) to set forth the rulings for the presidential, legislative and municipal elections in 2020.

Read the law in its entirety in this link:
http://hoy.com.do/danilo-medina-pro...-y-movimientos-politicos-leala-aqui-completa/
https://www.listindiario.com/la-republica/2018/08/13/528446/poder-ejecutivo-promulga-ley-de-partidos


Charcoal warehouse shutdown in Los Mina
The Ministry of Environment announced the shutdown of a charcoal warehouse that had been operating for more than 60 years in Santo Domingo East. The operation was directed by Ministry of Environment provincial director Francisco Portes, who said 80 charcoal bags were seized.

As reported in El Dia, the warehouse was located at Calle Pedro Benoit in the Vietnam barrio of Los Mina, Santo Domingo East. The owner of the business was arrested at the time of the shutdown. He said he had made a living from the business the past 30 years, after buying it out from the previous owner that had started it around 30 years before.

Present at the shutdown were environmental defense prosecutors, agents from the National Environmental Protection Agency (Senpa), the Police and the Criminal Division of the Police (Dicrim). On 19 July 2018, in front of the warehouse, a truck loaded with 120 bags of charcoal was seized and the culprits sent to justice.

http://eldia.com.do/medio-ambiente-...arbon-que-tenia-60-anos-operando-ilegalmente/


Dominicans do not like paying for tourist card
In the first half of this year, the Taxation Agency (DGII) has collected RD$1.08 billion in revenues via tourist card purchases, as airlines comply with a new government regulation. The new charge that mostly affects foreigners and Dominicans living abroad was introduced by Decree 430-17 on 14 December 2017 and requires airlines to charge all purchasing airline tickets abroad the tourist taxes, regardless whether the persons are Dominican or foreign visitors.

While Dominicans can reclaim the US$10 charge at the Taxation Agency office or via Internet, the process takes 10 days, and in reality very few are presenting claims, creating a windfall in foreign exchange for the government.

It has not been established how much has been refunded nor how much of the money collected is from Dominicans. A report from the DGII shows that in April 2018, RD$169.3 million was collected; in May RD$119.1 million and in June RD$195 million.

Many Dominicans have complained about the charge and saying that the reimbursement process, which requires Internet access, is cumbersome. Others say the measure discriminates against Dominicans who live overseas, that are more likely to purchase their airline tickets online or abroad.

Marcos Cadet, DGII spokesman, called on the Dominicans who have paid for the tourist card to seek a reimbursement. He claims the process is simple enough.

https://www.listindiario.com/econom...icanos-tienen-que-pagar-para-entrar-a-su-pais


Nothing is happening on the Los Alcarrizos skylift
Some 67 days after President Danilo Medina inaugurated the start of the Los Alcarrizos skylift and the Cibao bus station, there is no sign of any progress and the land is still full of rubble, as reported in Listin Diario. During the 8 August 2018 ceremony that marked the start of operation of the 2B Line of the Santo Domingo Metro, President Medina again spoke of the construction of the Los Alcarrizos skylift as the next phase of the mass transport system.

Nevertheless, Listin Diario reporters say that in the area chosen for the work there is just a fence and a ditch that has been only partially excavated. In addition there are six signs saying “Ministry of Public Works” around the perimeter, but that is all.

The first station of the skylift has been announced to go up in Puente Blanco, but residents in the area confirm they have seen little movement towards construction and have seen no one involved with the construction for over a month.

https://www.listindiario.com/la-rep...senas-de-iniciar-teleferico-en-los-alcarrizos


Foreigners have to renew PNRE
The Migration Agency (DGM) has called on those foreigners enrolled in the National Foreigners’ Status Legalization Plan (PNRE) to renew or change their migration category or status. DGM noted that the current period ends on 26 August 2018 and that the foreigners who have not obtained their updated residency permits can go to their local office and check to see if they are on the list at the Migration Agency website.

To renew the card, a visit in person is required to present the corresponding PNRE card or passport with a sticker, legalized birth certificate and permanent address in the Dominican Republic as well as a contact number. The applicants also have to take four photographs. The extension of the validity of the PNRE cards has been granted mostly to benefit Haitians who have not been able to secure the documentation from the Haitian government that are needed to complete the status regularization process. The Haitian government on innumerable occasions as committed to produce the documentation, but has not come through.

https://www.diariolibre.com/noticias/a-extranjeros-pnre-les-toca-renovacion-FA10544537


Underpasses and elevated sections to close
The Ministry of Public Works has announced that during this week, aside from Thursday, 16 August 2018, that is a national holiday, several underpasses and elevated sections in Greater Santo Domingo will close for maintenance. The hours of closure for maintenance works is from 10:30pm to 5am.

The maintenance schedule for the week is:
On, Tuesday, 14 August, the elevated section of Charles de Gaulle with the San Isidro highway will be closed.
On Wednesday, 15 August, works will be carried out on the long tunnel of 27 February between Abraham Lincoln and Winston Churchill and that of Av. 27 February with Doctor Defillo.
On Friday, 17 August, maintenance works are scheduled for the Las Americas tunnel.

http://eldia.com.do/cerraran-tuneles-y-elevados-a-partir-de-este-lunes-por-mantenimiento/


Scotiabank to buy Banco de Progreso
Talks are advanced for the purchase of the small, yet efficient Banco del Progreso. The bank is the local representative for American Express. Reportedly, it would merge with the big Scotiabank. Talks had been ongoing since 2015.

The reports are that it is a US$320 million operation. It would turn Scotiabank into the fourth largest bank in the Dominican Republic, behind the governmental Banco de Reservas, Banco Popular Dominicano and the merged BHD-Leon.

http://eldia.com.do/scotiabank-negocia-mayoria-acciones-del-banco-progreso/


Emergency landing for plane with cocaine mule onboard
A Blue Panorama flight headed to Milan, Italy from the Dominican Republic made an emergency landing on Sunday, 12 August 2018, in Santiago de Compostela International Airport (SCQ) after a passenger became ill. It was later known she was a mule and cocaine had seeped from bags she was carrying in her insides.

The 21-year old woman was taken to a Santiago de Compostela hospital. According to the Spanish Police, the woman was carrying around 56 bags of around 15 grams each.

As reported by Efe news agency, the flight was resumed about an hour after the emergency landing.

https://www.listindiario.com/la-rep...a-al-explotanse-bolsas-de-cocaina-a-una-joven


Dominicans jailed and fined in Bahamas
The captain of a boat with 46 Dominicans that was detained during the second week of July with 14 tons of fish and lobster captured illegally to the south of the Bahamas, has been convicted to spend 18 months in prison. The Bahamas Defense Force informed that Radhames Hernández, was one of the 46 Dominicans who appeared in court this week to answer to several charges including illegal fishing and capture of protected species during the banned period.

The fishermen were ordered to pay a fine totaling US$53,000 and one of them had to pay an additional US$100,000 as this was the second time he has been convicted of illegal fishing in Bahamian waters.

Hernández was also found guilty of possession of a firearm and was sentenced to 18 months in jail for that. The authorities said that the Dominicans first said they were innocent of the charges but later changed their pleas to guilty. Once the fines have been paid and jail sentences completed they will all be deported.

http://eldia.com.do/condenan-dominicano-a-18-meses-de-carcel-por-pesca-ilegal-en-bahamas/


Dominicans stopped going to Puerto Rico
The US Coast Guard announced in a press release, that they have sent 43 undocumented immigrants to the Dominican Republic after their boat was intercepted as it headed for Puerto Rico, on Sunday, 12 August 2018.

The repatriation followed the interception of two migrant vessels near Puerto Rico last week, one with 19 migrants and a second with 37 people, the release explained.

In addition to 43 migrants sent to the Dominican Republic, 13 were transferred to Puerto Rico, one of whom was transported to a hospital and 12 detained to face potential federal criminal immigration charges for attempted illegal re-entry into the United States, the release said.

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDHSCG/bulletins/204f70c


Major drug network dismantled
Following an investigation over several months, the Public Prosecution Service, the National Drug Control Agency (DNCD) and the National Police say they have dismantled the criminal network dedicated to drug dealing and murder for hire that was led by inmate Jesús Pascual Cabrera Ruiz from the La Romana jail where he is serving preventive custody for money laundering. During around 20 raids carried out simultaneously by a team of 20 prosecutors and more than 200 agents from the DNCD and the police, approximately 20 people were arrested. Some of those detained are under investigation, while other suspects will be subjected to a preventive custody hearings.

The institution said that the raids were carried out in Santo Domingo and La Romana, as well as the jail in San Francisco de Macorís, Rafey Men’s jail, in Santiago, and Cucama in La Romana. During the raids several weapons were confiscated along with cash. In addition, during the raids and arrests in La Romana Francisco Javier Rodríguez Camacho, was killed. He was considered to be the number two to Cabrera Ruiz in the network. Another member of the gang, Rubén Junior Sosa was also killed. Their bodies were sent to the National Institute of Forensic Science (INACIF) for autopsy.

The Prosecution Service said that the band is supposedly linked to the murders of Juan Francisco Piña Mateo, which took place on 27 March 2018; José Bienvenido Marte Mercedes, on 24 April and Randy Mario Manzanillo, on 18 July among others cases.

Jesús Pascual Cabrera Ruiz was extradited from Spain to the Dominican Republic having been accused of drug dealing, money laundering and murder for hire.

The director of the civic group Participación Ciudadana, Carlos Pimentel, said that the operation of the gang in cahoots with people in prison was only possible with complicity from the authorities.

"We have inmates who continue to oversee criminal activities from jail and the authorities do not exercise any kind of control," he said. He argued that the only way in which an inmate can operate is with the complicity of the authorities that are responsible for the custody of the prisons or prisons in the country.

https://www.listindiario.com/la-rep...ntelan-una-banda-vinculada-al-narco-sicariato
http://hoy.com.do/participacion-ciu...den-operar-banda-sin-complicidad-autoridades/
http://hoy.com.do/narcos-seguirian-operando-desde-carceles-en-rd/
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...cel-y-se-le-atribuyen-seis-muertes-LB10555824


Attempted murder of Rizik carried out by La Romana gang member
The National Police have confirmed at a press conference that the assassination attempt on Winston Rizik in December 2017, at the jail in La Vega was orchestrated by the gang lead by Jesús Pascual Cabrera Ortiz. This is the gang that was dismantled this week in an operation in La Romana resulting in the deaths of two of its members.

National Police spokesman, Frank Duran, said that the person behind a murder in Bani, and gang member, José Augusto Then Rosario was the same person who stabbed Rizik.

https://www.listindiario.com/la-rep...nto-asesinar-a-winston-rizik-segun-la-policia


Accused of murder of Yuniol Ramirez trying to avoid prosecution
The accused, Argenis Contreras, who is implicated in the murder of lawyer Yuniol Ramírez, could be back in the country at the end of October 2018, according to Manauris Montero Ferrera, who is one of the lawyers for the family of the victim. The lawyer was preparing a case for corruption against the governmental OMSA bus agency. Contreras was employed there as an assistant to the director, Manuel Rivas, who is being tried in Santo Domingo.

Montero Ferrera said that Argenis Contreras has sought asylum from a United States court to avoid taking responsibility for his actions, but his petition was rejected. He appealed the decision on 3 August 2018, and a ruling will be issued within the next 30 days.

In another area of the case, the family of Yuniol Ramírez has asked the prosecutor from Santo Domingo province, Olga Diná Llaverías, to hand over the evidence she has collected during the investigation to the National District jurisdiction and their lawyers warn that if she does not, they will sue her for kidnapping the file.

https://www.listindiario.com/la-rep...n-el-pais-a-finales-de-octubre-segun-abogados


DR artistic roller skater surprises in Barranquilla Games
Born in Bologna, Italy of an Italian father and Dominican mother (Zaida Arias of La Romana province), 12-year old Micaela Marcelloni Arias became the first Dominican artistic roller skater to win a medal in a Central American & Caribbean Games for the Dominican Republic. She was also the youngest of more than 5,000 competitors in the regional games that closed earlier this month with 107 medals for the Dominican Republic, including the bronze won by Marcelloni.

Listin Diario tells the family had contacted the Dominican sports authorities to encourage these to register young Micaela as a competitor in the sport. Her parents had introduced her to the sport at the early age of five years and she had showed good prowess. Take note that Italy is regarded as the best in artistic skating in the world.

In 2016, Micaela’s trainer, Stefania Priori contacted the local sports authorities to discuss the possibility of her pupil competing for the Dominican Republic. The coach would send several videos of her participating, convincing the local authorities to give the child a chance.

As reported in Listin Diario, the parents nor coach kept the plan for her to compete for the Dominican Republic to themselves until it was a given so that the child would not become anxious. Prior to her participation in the Barranquilla, Colombia regional games, Marcelloni had competed in the German Cup, where she won silver in her category. In Barranquilla 2018, Marcelloni placed third, behind Johana Apolinar of Colombia and Carolina Zermeño of Mexico.

Austo Arias Peralta, president of the Dominican Artistic Skiing Federation said that the next major events are the World Championship and the Pan Am Games in Peru in 2019. There were three other members on the Dominican artistic roller skating team.

https://www.listindiario.com/el-deporte/2018/08/13/528375/la-benjamin-de-los-medallistas-dominicanos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3HHcoPgPxE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZrLjdPchz0


DR to host taekwondo Pan Am
Venues in the cities of Santo Domingo and Santiago, Dominican Republic will host the Taekwondo Panams this 17-20 October 2018. The First Open Pan American Games ITF Union of Taekwon-do will bring together an estimated 700 competitors from 20 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. In Santo Domingo, the event will be staged at the installations of the Club Los Prados and the Club San Carlos, among other venues.
https://www.metrord.do/do/deportes/2018/08/12/rd-sera-sede-panam-taekwondo.html
https://www.itfunion.com/